Electrovacuum vibrator



March 23, 1943. M P, MCCARTY ELECTRO VACUUM VIBBATOR Filed Aug. 26, 1940E A A AA m l I Aww/WV Patented Mar. 23, 1943 2,314590 ELEo'rnovAoUUMvisitaron Madison P. McCarty,

Dallas, Tex., assignor of one-half to John D. Grey, Dallas, Tex.Application August 26, 1940, Serial No. 354,196 1 Claim. (Cl. 12S- 38)This invention relates to dermatological instruments and it hasparticular reference to a device for applying vacuo-vibratory treatmentsto the skin.

The principal object of the invention is'to provide an instrument forthe safe and effective removal of comedones occluding the excretorylsebaceous glands, especially of the face and eliminatos the usualdiscomfort attending removal of such mass by the method of pressing theskin surrounding the blemishes.

Another object of the invention is to provide adevice of the characterspecified, which is likewise highly effective for smoothing superficialskin wrinkles by rehabilitating the derma tissues through increasedblood circulation induced by vibration and vacuum actuation.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the establishment ofvacuum with vibration or for the breaking of the vacuum withoutinterrupting operation of the device where vibration alone is desired,such being accomplished through the medium of `a simple valveconveniently disposed in the head of the instrument.

The invention further provides for the interchangeability of applicatorsin order that difierent designs of applicators for different uses may beconveniently and quickly attached to the instrument. Applicators areemployed for building up skin tissues, extraction of pus from blemishes,

removing superiicial wrinkles and for many otherv uses where vacuum maybe effective.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has other objectsand corresponding accomplishments obtained by the embodiment oi theinvention set forth in the following descrip-l tion and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 4is an elevational view of the invention in longitudinalcross-section.

Figure 2 is a detail front elevation of the cylinder per se.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 on Figure l, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the invention.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference isprimarily made to Figure 1 in which the numeral I designates the handleof the device comprised preferably of a cylindrical shell of plasticmaterial and which is joined to the swaged end 2 by means of small setscrews 3. Concentric with the handle I is a shell 4 of soft iron whichcontains a coil 5. Within the electro-magnetic coil is a brass cylinder6. A stationary core 'I is disposed in this cylinder at one end. Anarmature 8 is axially arranged in the core of the coil 5 and is mountedon a fiat spring This spring serves to return the armature at each cyclechange of the alternating current energizing the coil.

A shading ring I8, preferably a short circuited, one turn copper tube orcoil surrounds the armature or part of the pole 8 and is effective toreduce the magnetic flux in that part of the pole covered byv the tubeor coil by currents induced in the said shading ring.

The outer end of the armature in the end member 2 is obviouslyoscillated or reciprocated by the motion imparted thereto by the jointaction of the stationary core 1 and ,spring 9 and as a result, the 'armII, attached to the armature is caused to move more or less axially orlongitudinally with slight lateral displacement. As

such movementv occurs, the connecting pin I2, pivoted at a to the arm IIis reciprocated in the cylinder I3 through the guide I4. To compensatefor the lateral displacement of the arm II and consequent similardisplacement of the pin I2, the cylinder I3 is pivoted at b intermediateits ends to the end member 2, throughi the medium of arms b'.

The connecting pin I2 carries a piston I5 having a leather I6. Astationaryhead I1 is disposed in the' cylinder below the piston over therestricted passages I8 in the lower end of the cylinder. A sleeve I9 isthreaded or otherwise mounted on the lower end of the cylinder and thissleeve has cemented therein an applicator 28, preferably of transparentglass. It is obvious that the applicator shown may be substituted byothers oi different operative faces suited to different uses. A packingring or gasket 2l is interposed between the sleeve I9 and lower end ofthe cylinder I3 to insure against possible leakage likely to interferewith the setting up of an effective vacuum in the applicator ywhen thelatter is applied to the skin. The stationary head i'I is secured inplace by a screw 22 and it will be observed that this head likewise hasa leather similar to that of the piston I5 Iand while-the drawing showsa comparatively close relationship between the leathers of the head andpiston with the wall of the cylinder, the-clearance is such as to permitof passage of airupward from within the applicator 20 through passagesI8 as the piston I5 is reciprocated, so as. to evacuate the applicator.A rubber grommet 23 surrounds the cylinder I3 where it protrudes fromthe lower plate 24 of the shell 25 constituting the head of the deviceand which is preferably constructed of a suitable plastic comparablewith that of the handle.

As a means for controlling the electric current entering the coil 5, aswitch is provided and is comprised of a member 26 having a ange toreceive one end of the shell I and whichis secured by set screws asshown. This member 26 has a circular cavity to receive the complementaryprotuberance 2l' of a plug 28. Ferrous contacts 29 are carried by themember 26 and are connected to the coil terminals by wires c. Contacts3B are carried by the plug 28 and since the latter is rotatable in thecavity of the member 23, the contacts 29 and 30 are movable into and outof engagement as shown in Figure 4. When in engagement one with theother, circuit is completed through the service wire 3I and coil 5.

When the coil 5 is energized, armature 8 will be attracted to thestationary core 'I but due to the provision of an air gap between thearmature and core, the operation is silent. Spring S returns thearmature 8 to its original position when displaced and the resultantrecprocation of the armature is effective to actuate piston I5 in thecylinder I3. Air in the applicator 20 is displaced on the down stroke ofpiston I5 through the space between the leather I6 of the piston. Whenthe piston reverses, the leather I6 expands against the wall of thecylinder while the air in .the applicator is extracted through passagesI8 and through the space between the leather of the head I'i and thecylinder wall, to enter the space between the piston and head I1preparatory to expulsion as above described. Breathing in the spaceabove the cylinder leather is effected through the pin hole I4 in guideI4.

Thus a partial vacuum is set up in the applicator cup sought yet not sosevere as to harm even the most delicate tissues.

20 suicient to accomplish the results 40 When it is desired to operatethe device Without vacuum and where vibration alone is desired, a valve32 is operated to effect communication of the interior of cylinder port33 in the cylinder wall to dispel the vacuum. An eccentric 34, operatedby a lever 35 controls the movements of valve 32 relative to the port 33and a spring 36 is employed to hold the valve in operative positionexcept when displaced by the lever 35. The lever 35 protrudes through aslot 31 in the head 25 and is so positioned as to be convenientlyaccessible to a finger of the hand holding the instrument in operativeposition.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of somemodification and such modication as may be construed to fall within thescope and meaning of the appended claim is also considered to be withinthe spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a device for the treatment of skin blemishes, a handle having a headwhose longitudinal axis is in oblique relation to the longitudinal axisof the handle, an electro-magnetic coil in said handle, an armatureshaft oscillatable by said coil, a cylinder in said head, a piston insaid cylinder, a piston rod, an arm within the conines of said headconnecting said armature and piston rod to reciprocate said piston bymeans of said armature, means pivoting said cylinder intermediate itsends whereby to effect oscillative vibration thereof, an interchangeableapplicator carried by said cylinder, a perforated head in said cylinderbetween said piston and applicator, means to constrain air to pass fromthe latter into said cylinder by the action of said piston to establisha vacuum in said applicator and means to render said' latter meansineffective to control said air and to suspend the evacuating eiTect ofsaid piston.

MADISON P. MCCARTY.

I3 to atmosphere through

